RS-232 interface in a 20-pin DIP — what this part is
It handles serial communication at data rates up to 120 Kbps, drawing from a single 4.75 V to 5.25 V supply. The through-hole PDIP footprint suits legacy backplanes, industrial controllers, and bench equipment where socketed ICs simplify field replacement.
Receiver hysteresis — noise margin on long runs
With 500 mV of receiver hysteresis, the MAX233EPP+G36 rejects noise on cables up to a few metres in electrically noisy environments like motor drives or relay panels. That hysteresis margin reduces the chance of bit errors from coupled transients compared to parts with tighter thresholds.
No second-source or direct replacement is documented in the available records.